Fans who came to see Marc Anthony at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Saturday night had to wait close to two hours before the star made the appearance. Once he did, though, Anthony quickly showed why he's worth waiting for, kicking off his set with an energetic rendition of "Valio la Pena."
Anthony was at the Irvine venue with Alejandro Fernández for a "Juntos en Concierto" evening although the two artists never teamed up on stage.
This was not the Marc Anthony who became known worldwide a few years ago for his successful crossover into English-language music. Not even a note of hits such as "I Need to Know" or "You Sang to Me." Instead, the singer focused on his salsa roots with about an hour of Spanish-only numbers, including "Mi Gente" – a nod to salsa hero Héctor Lavoe whom Anthony portrayed in 2007's "El Cantante."
Throughout the evening, Anthony delivered a solid, entertaining set without relying on special effects – just an artist on stage with his band, deeply passionate about his craft and losing himself in the rhythms. It's hard not to appreciate such devotion but at times, it seemed like Anthony was too much in his own world and it may have cost him some connection with the audience.
The energy changed in the second part of the evening when Fernández hit the stage. That's when "Juntos en Concierto" went from a concert to a spectacle complete with mariachi, backup dancers, costume changes and flashy light displays. There was also a noticeable change in the crowd as well. This was Fernández's audience ready to scream, throw bras on stage, wave Mexican flags and sing along.
Fernández made his career following the footsteps of his father, legendary ranchera singer Vicente Fernández. He became a superstar by crossing over from the world of traditional ranchera and mariachi music to the world of pop and is now celebrating 15 years in the spotlight. To commemorate the occasion, Fernández – also known to his fans and media by his nickname "El Potrillo" (the colt) – released his first greatest hits collection last fall. On Saturday, he treated fans to some of the hits, such as "Me Dedique a Perderte," and "Tantita Pena."
Fernández is faithful to his roots and with Mexican Independence Day just around the corner, he tapped into his fellow countrymen's patriotism, even going as far as to say that California is just a borrowed land.
His vocals pulled on female audience members' heartstrings – and some bra straps, as evidenced by the lingerie pile growing on the stage throughout his set.
The concert-goers were divided on which artist was better, but with a longer performance and a stronger audience connection, Fernández seemed like the more memorable act. It is a shame that Anthony and Fernández never sang together. It would have been interesting to see the blend of their music styles.
